Adjustable audience seat



Oct. 1l, 1932. w.v c; URL ING 1,881,983

ADJUSTABLE AUDIENCE SEAT Filed Sept. 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l N VE N TOR,

' A TTORNE Y.

Oct. l1, 1932. WQ c. URLING 1,881,983

ADJUSTABLE AUDIENCE SEAT I Filed Sept. 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

L4 TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 11, 1932 WALTER c. ELING, or BADEN, rENNsYLvANIA f ADJUSTABLE AUDIENCE 'SEAT j Application sied september 4, 1931. sriai 561,1952

My invention refers to an improvement in the class of audience seats of the type known as bleachers.' It has for its object to provide an adjustable seat frame adapted to be located inextended .inclined operative position for use in front 'of a wall or other boundary surface, and to bethrust backwardly for vertical storage when not in use. f

The improvement consists of a suitable rectangular framing having a series of transverse Vseat members, provided at its lower` edge portion with supporting rollers, the upper edge portion being mountedfor vertical guiding movement in a plurality of cushioning columns. Such columns, which are preferably tubular and vertically slotted are each provided with an elongated coiled spring, and the construction is so arranged and adjusted as to maintain a spring resistance increasing approximately at the same rate as the increasing gravitating pressure in one direction, decreasing in the same proportion in the other direction, in extending orcollapsing the structure.

|The present invention is related to that of my 4prior application liled January-2l, 1930, Serial No. 422,309.` Y

One preferred embodiment of the inven- 1 tion is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: y

Fig. 1 is' a view in front elevationof the device in extended operative position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view Vthereof showing one of the columns, in vertical section' Fig. 3 is a viewl similar to Fig. showing the device in approximately vertical. position as stored away when not in use;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged sectional tail view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, illustrating the lockinglatch; Y i u Fig. 5 isv a partial view in perspective showing the mounting of one of the tubular columns.

The framework of the seats ,i is generally rectangular in form composed of purlin-like members 2 of structural shape, as anglesri o-r channels, across which extend a series V,of

seats 3 and foot boards carried by brackets y within the upper dei 5 Vof suitable construction and strongly bracing the entire framework, and maintaining it in shape. y

Any suitable arrangement of such cross members may bel adopted, or of other`-brac 55 ing construction, maintaining thet` frame members 2 in their desired relationship to the` guiding columns and the floor surface. At its lower end the framework -is provided with rollers; 6, suitably located to en- 60 sureeasy running movement across thesurface olf the floor a outwardly from and :backwardly towards the seriesof guiding and! supporting columns 7. Such columns, which may -be'of piping or other tubular` construc- '65 tion, are erected, usually against orgin front of any wall surface, and are' mounted in suit-4 f able bases 8 which may conveniently be, of channel form having openings ,therein bottom plate9. l

At their upper portions columns7 are connected, as by suitable clamping brackets 10,l with a transverse bar-1l secured against the Wall surface b, as inV Figs. 1 and 3. VThe tops of the columns are also preferably capped as shown. Y .Y Y .y The upper portions of columns 7 are vertically slotted, as at 12,V foriguiding engagement with terminal brackets 13, 4secured to l the upper ends vo-f. members2 and extending inwardly `through 'slot,12.- Between the cheeks of brackets 13 is a pivotally mounted roller, or other 'suitable-bearing terminal 14;. Such .terminal rests onthe disk-liketop 15 s ofA a stem 1,6, which "extends downwardly l portion of a long coiled throughwhich the columns extendagainst a 70" spring 17. Y

Such spring extends continuously from the base plate 9i upwardlythrouglh the interiorA of'column 7, the lower portion of which is continuously closed,` below the slot 12.` Such slot is of sulicient length to allow for theentire range of movement ofthe upper 95 `portion of the frame, and brackets lcorresp onding to the extent of movement involvedv in adjusting the device fromits outermostto innermost position, as in Figs. '2 and '3.

When the frame is lowered to operative @Fece-fil y v the'reacting pressure of spring-17 is greatest" under the greatest load and leastunder the l l lightest load.

, Spring 17 is of such strength and range of vresiliency as to be under slight orminimum Icompression lwhen the frame is thrust backwardly" as in Fig.'3, and under greatest compression and resilient reaction, when the 'frame is'lo-Weredas in Fig. 2. The advantage of such construction and arrangement is that when the seatsV` are empty, a single operator may, with comparatively slight effort, eitherY lower thel frame by hisown weightapplied to the/upper portion, as `the top seat or foot board, and may also lpush the lower-portion of the frame backwardly, assisted by the rei actionV of the spring. The conditions also are .under continuous bala-nce quite suflicient'to maintain the frame in either lowered, or raised position, its: gravity vwhen 'extended' overcoming lifting power .of the springs, and

'when collapsed, being `insufficient to effect their -compression without such manual assistance. f

Forthe purpose of positively holding the frame in lowered usable position I provide a holding latch or lock, such as shown.

f In the form illustrated I provide a. pair ofV outwardly extendinglugs 18l at each side-'of slot 12,lwhich may be conveniently welded or otherwise secured to the inner edges of the column, having recessed sockets 19, for engagement of a cross bar 20.V The latter,

which-may extend at eitherside for grasping, is carried by the swinging arms 21 piv- .oted at 22 in bracket 13, and is thus capable Vof being swung outwardly or inwardly for `unlocking or locking engagement with the lugs orbrackets 18. By concaving their under. sides as shown the bar 20 is capable of making a secure holding engagement, espelcially under the reacting pressure of the spring.

. The lower end of a slot 12 preferably extends slightly below the lower edge of bracket 13, .so that the weight of the operator is sullicient to effect additional slight downward movement 4to effect unlocking. Thereafter, the frame being released it Vmay be pushed backwardly and will maintain its position due tothe continuous slight upward pressure yof ythe not entirely expanded spring. For 'the purpose of insuringinitial easy outward movement of thelower portion of the frame the floor a is provided with a vention will be readily understood and ap- Vterminals in lowered position.

slight upward terminal track 23 foreach roller, thereby facilitating its outwardinitial movement in lowering.y Y

The construction and operation ofthe inpreciated from the foregoing description.'

The bleacherfseats when lowered are in the desirable position for use, restrained and limited from further movement under the load of occupation, vby lthe restingr of the brackets 1'3 on the solid wall ofthe columns 7- at the lower end of the slots. Upon removal of such occupation and relief fromsuch additional load, thejnorma-l weightof the'entirel frame, counterbalanced by the springs, enables it to be easily manipulatedand stored away in the mannerv described, leaving practically the entire lateral floor surface open and free, except only the narrow-portion occupied by the columns and they projecting thickness of the frame.v

CFI

n Win be understood ,that the, eating framework maybe madev in sections of suitablelength for individual location and adjustment around the walls of a room or according tothe space to be used. Also that Vvarious changes or modifications may be made by the skilled mechanic in detail con-fV struction or otherwise, but that 'all such changes are to be consideredl as within the scope of the following claims. What I claim is:

f 1. An adjustatble audience ing a supporting framehaving a lower inwardly. and outwardly movable and upper guiding terminals, a plurality of tubular slotted columns, and a spring in one'of said columns resiliently engaging one of the upper terminals .under continuous Yvariable pressure proportioned to .the1 gravitating pressure'of the upper terminal thereon.

Y 2.. An adjustable audienceseat comprising seat compris- A a supporting frame having a lowerY inwardly f and outwardly y movable Y roller-supported portion and upper guiding Vterminals, a plurality of tubular slotted columns, fand a spring in kone of'saidl columns resiliently engaging one'of the upper terminalsunder continuous variable pressure proportioned to the gravitating pressure iof theupper .ter-v minal thereon.

3. VAn adjustable audience seat comprising asupporting frame having a lower inwardly and outwardly Y movable roller-supported portionv and upper `guiding terminals, a plurality of tubular slotted columns, a spring in one of said columns resiliently engaging one vof the upper terminals under continuous 'variable pressure proportioned to the gravivtatlng pressure of the kupper terminal thereon, and means for locking-'one ofthe' upper 4. An adjustable audience seat comprising a supportingY frame having a lower inwardly and outwardly movable roller-'supported portion and upper guiding terminals, a plurality of tubular columns slotted at their .upper portions, a spring in each of said columns resiliently engaging the upper terminals under continuous variable pressure pron portioned to the gravitating pressure of the terminals thereon, and a locking device on i Y 1 i one of the upper terminals adapted to engage its column when the frame is in lowered position.

5. In combination with a Hoor surface and a series of vertical guiding columns, one of said columns being tubular and having an upper slotted portion and a. lower portioncontaining a'spring, a supporting frame as described having a lower rolling portion traversible `over the floor and upper portions Y engaging the columns, one of said portions frame as described having a lower rolling portion traversible over the` floor and an upper portion having terminals extending through the slotted portion andvsupported" on the contained springs and provided with a locking device.

7 In combination with a floor surface having an inner incline and a series of vertical tubular columns adJacent said incline each having an upper slotted portion and a lower portion containing a spring, a supporting frame having seats and a lower terminal provided with rollers traversible over the floor Y and its inclineand an upper portion having Jterminals extending through the slotted portion of the columns and supported,Y on the contained springs. Y

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WALTER C. URLING. 

